Page 49 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

Rath YatRa

Ram Rajya Rath Yatra: that Ravishankar has been found defeated if some violent incident the organizers are trying to make

the ruling BJP governments at the
guilty of violating environment laws doesn’t take place. RSS-affiliated
returning to Ram for 2019 by the National Green Tribunal and outfits will try their best to polarize Centre and the states free from
people on religious grounds. In any
the blame of abetting communal
evading depositing the penalty he
tension.
case, this has to be done at the time
has been asked for. The fresh build
up around the Ram temple issue is
of polls to make gains in terms of
Changing the slogan of Ram
obviously being made keeping in
view the 2019 General Election. We votes. So, the mobilization has been temple to Ram Rajya has its own
done well in advance. Whether they meaning. This seems to be a claver
The ongoing inter-state road trip organised by the RSS-affiliated VHP is clearly have seen how during the Gujarat are able to polarize the people will manipulation on the part of RSS
aimed at polarising the masses to make electoral gains as well as normalise the assembly polls this issue was also only be seen at the time the yatra and the BJP. The Hindutva forces
enters Karnataka and Kerala. Kar-
have long been trying to legitimize
invoked. The RSS is determined to
Hindutva ideology, anil sinha opines go ahead with the agenda of build- nataka is ready for polls and the their ideology. They have been try-
ing a Ram temple at Ayodhya. atmosphere is already charged. ing to appropriate the legacy of the
But unlike its response in the Kerala has already been witnessing freedom struggle and leaders like
hen Parliament sue of construction of Ram temple was established during the Ram past, the Muslim community is tak- violent clashes between RSS and Sardar Patel are being portrayed as
was debating issues at the disputed site of the demol- Mandir agitation of 1990 under ing it with some indifference. “They CPM workers.
like farmers’ dis- ished Babri mosque. The target, the leadership of veteran BJP leader have withdrawn themselves. This Expressing fear of violence, the
tress and growing obviously, was the minority Muslim LK Advani. has happened after demolition of CPI(M) said in a statement: “Polit- Changing the
W unemployment, a community. We can see how pressure is be- the Babri mosque,” says eminent buro of CPI(M) expresses its deep
RSS-affiliated outfit was busy organ- The current yatra has also en- ing built upon the judiciary. Spir- journalist Kuldip Nayar. He says that concern at the grave implications slogan from
izing a 60,000 km-long road trip to larged its canvas, demanding that itual Guru Shri Shri Ravishankar the event has left a dark spot on the of the ‘Ram Rajya Rath Yatra’ flagged ‘Hindu Rashtra’
revive the Ram Janmabhoomi is- the Ramayana be included in school has initiated a dialogue between secular credentials of the country. off at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
sue. Unlike its previous version in syllabus across the country, that Hindus and Muslims with some • Drive for He blames the Congress govern- This rally was flagged off by the RSS- to ‘Ram Rajya’ is
which the chariot had Ayodhya as Thursday be declared a weekly chosen religious leaders. The dia- support VHP’s ment led by PV Narsimha Rao for affiliated VHP General Secretary in a clever move to
its destination, this time the journey holiday and also declaration of a logue is aimed at finding an out-of- Ram Rajya Rath the demolition, saying that had Rao the presence of Faizabad BJP MP,
was to start from Ayodhya in Uttar World Hindu Day. So, the RSS has court settlement. Noted legal expert Yatra, which not turned a blind eye the mosque Ayodhya’s BJP Mayor and other claim Mahatma
Pradesh to reach Rameshwaram this time expanded the temple and vice-chancellor of National Law commenced would not have been demolished. BJP leaders”. The party has rightly
in Kanyakumari, the southernmost agenda to include other Hindutva- University Faizan Mustafa has right- from Ayodhya Will RSS allow the creation of expressed its concern over the fact Gandhi’s legacy
point in mainland India. The yatra, centric agendas. The destination of ly pointed out that such an effort is in February, a Ram temple to pass as an event that the route of the yatra proceeds and give legitimacy
named Ram Rajya Rath Yatra, was Rameshwaram has been chosen to unconstitutional and it undermines is a 41-day six without turmoil? This is unlikely through BJP-ruled states of Madhya
flagged off on February 14 and has stress the demand of recognition of the constitution. He has also pointed state tour because the whole purpose will be Pradesh and Maharashtra, spend- to a communal
already crossed the most important the Ram Setu. ing nearly a fortnight in Karnataka campaign
pilgrimage centres of UP includ- Though other long-term agen- where Assembly elections are due,
ing Varanasi and Allahabad. The das have been added to it, the core then proceeding via Kerala to reach
journey will last 41 days and cover agenda still remains the same. The Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. “This supporters of Hindutva. They are
six states including Karnataka, that yatra is being conducted at a time yatra has an incendiary potential to now trying to appropriate Gandhi’s
would face keenly contested polls when the Supreme Court is prepar- sharpen communal polarization in slogan of Ram Rajya. This may be an
in April-May. Other states which ing for a final hearing of the conten- order to strengthen the communal attempt to get rid of the Hindu Rash-
are to be covered include Madhya tious Ram Janmabhoomi case from Hindutva vote bank for the RSS- tra slogan which is clearly commu-
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and March 14. When all the political BJP. There are grave implications of nal. The word ‘Ram Rajya’ was used
Tamil Nadu. parties and religious organizations possibilities for stoking communal by Mahatma Gandhi to symbolize
Most political observers were have said that they would accept tensions, violence and mayhem,” the an ideal rule. By adopting it, the RSS
under the impression that the issue the court verdict, what is the need party has said. is trying to bring some respectabil-
of the Ram Temple had outlived its of organizing a yatra on the issue? The cleverly planned yatra has ity to concept of Hindu Rashtra.
political utility. Many were inclined The court is yet to give a verdict and avoided to rope in big leaders. No Whatever may be the political
to believe that the BJP-RSS com- the organizer — the Vishwa Hindu big BJP stalwart has so far attended outcome of this yatra, it is clear that
bine will not use the issue again as Parishad — is asserting that a grand the yatra. UP Chief Minister Yogi it will further marginalize the mi-
it might not yield any significant Ram temple will be erected at Ayo- Adityanath was supposed to flag off nority community. The attempt is
dividends. However, proving them dhya before Ram Navami next year. the yatra, but he didn’t turn up. not limited to the agenda of build-
wrong, the combine had started The rath or chariot has been mod- Only a few months back, he ing a Ram temple at Ayodhya, it is
raising the issue the moment it elled as per the design of the pro- had chosen Ayodhya to launch aimed at establishing Hindu sym-
came to power. It has been attempt- posed temple. The yatra also began the campaign for the state’s bols in the country’s public life. This
ing to combine other issues such as from Karsevakpuram, the venue local polls. This distance is possibly will undermine the constitution.
gau-raksha or cow protection, love where the artefacts of the proposed being maintained to make it appear
jihad and triple talaq to the core is- temple are being created. The place as a non-political initiative. Maybe, letters@tehelka.com

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